Phoenixville rebuffs developer who wants to build at old fire company site

PHOENIXVILLE — Borough council shot down a development group’s request for a letter of support for the building of townhouse units on the old Friendship Fire Company site at Franklin Avenue and Fillmore Street.

Because the group came to council and provided packets with information on Feb. 12 — the same night of the meeting — several council members said they felt rushed and did not want to make a decision to approve the project.

“I’m not saying we can’t get there,” council President Richard Kirkner said. “I’m saying 35 minutes after I was presented with this, I’m still not there.”

The project presented by a contingent representing Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic proposed the construction of three buildings with 24 units each of “workforce housing.”

Advertisement

There would also be an on-site office constructed.

With a deadline Friday, the group was looking for support in its application for funding with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Affiliation, a group that “works to provide affordable home-ownership and rental apartment options for senior adults, low and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs,” according to its official website.

“They’re up against a rather fast process,” said Borough Manager E. Jean Krack.

“One of the items that we feel will strengthen the application will be support letters from the local community and municipality,” said Ian Rawhauser, the group’s project manager. “We’re here to make that formal request tonight.”

However, several council members expressed concern at their lack of familiarity with the project.

“I don’t know at this point whether this is viable,” said Christopher Bauers. “I don’t know if this concept fits on that property.”

Kirkner raised similar concerns, citing a prospective project brought to council in 2004 that proposed building 61 townhouses on the Friendship Field property before the borough acquired the park.

He was concerned that extra housing in that area might create “congestion.”

The fact that the development would also be across from a playground and a lighted basketball court was also “problematic” to Kirkner.

“Kids will be up there at 10:30, 10:45 (p.m.)...have you ever heard a bounce of a basketball on a macadam surface?” he said. “(Imagine) living across the street from that. We have to ask ourselves: do we want housing fronting on Fillmore Street?”

Council unanimously voted against the project, minus Jen Mayo and Karl Bucus who were not at the meeting.

James Kovaleski abstained from the vote and discussion of the project because his law firm represented the group.

It is unclear whether the group pushed forward to make the Housing Finance Affiliation’s deadline.